Through this column, I would like to appeal to those individuals who criticise the army to take a moment and reflect on the life of a soldier. A soldier spends his entire life enduring the hardships of rigorous training, stands eye to eye with the enemy at the border, confronts conspiracies, and tolerates taunts and criticism-especially in this era of fifth-generation warfare, where mockery and defamation have become a fashion.
As I have already mentioned, despite doing all this, a soldier does not ask anyone for a reward, does not protest, does not demand a salary increase, does not go on strike, and does not complain that he has been burdened beyond his capacity. Because, in the words of Allama Iqbal, they are seekers of martyrdom alone. That is why, when a soldier does not complain to us, it becomes our duty as a nation, as citizens of this country and inhabitants of Pakistan, to appreciate these brothers of ours, acknowledge their services, praise them, and highlight their good deeds instead of criticising them. Believe me, doing so will further uplift their spirits, and they will feel proud that their brothers and their nation stand with them. And when a nation stands united, no power in the world can harm even a hair of Pakistan, God willing.
There is no difference of opinion on the fact that our soldiers aspire to martyrdom. Some people accuse them of fighting for money. To such people, I would only say that if giving one’s life for money were so easy, the entire Pakistan would be standing on the borders today. This honour, however, is granted only to those whom Allah Almighty has chosen for this noble purpose, those who sacrifice their lives not for a few coins, but for the protection of the country’s borders and for faith and religion. Faith, piety, and jihad in the path of Allah are the guiding principles of the Pakistan Army.
The spirit of martyrdom that prevails in the Pakistan Army is such that whether one is an officer or a soldier, this passion flows equally through all of them.
Our army safeguards not only the geographical borders of the country but also its ideological foundations. Although the protection of ideological borders is not formally included in its duties and constitutionally this responsibility lies with state institutions, those institutions have failed to fulfil this obligation, which is why the army is compelled to perform this role as well.
Pakistan is fortunate in this regard that it possesses one of the world’s bravest, most courageous, hardworking, dignified, and resilient armies, an army that enjoys the full trust of the nation. People trust that while they sleep warmly in their homes on cold nights, their brothers in uniform endure freezing winds and harsh weather to provide them this comfort, and if given the opportunity, they would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives.
Martyrdom is an honour that can only be attained by one whose heart is filled with faith and who longs for it. For this reason, Allah Almighty has bestowed countless honours upon the martyr. The Qur’an and Sunnah clearly describe the lofty status and rank of martyrs, showing that in Islam, the greatness and position of martyrdom are extremely high.
Regardless of the nation or country to which they belong, martyrs are a source of honour and dignity for their people. Likewise, the martyrs of the Pakistan Army are the reason why Pakistan stands strong today, both geographically and ideologically. The spirit of martyrdom that prevails in the Pakistan Army is such that whether one is an officer or a soldier, this passion flows equally through all of them. Their sole objective is to sacrifice their lives for the country and become a source of pride for the nation.
The world may continue to spread propaganda against them and subject them to ridicule, but the entire Pakistani nation takes pride in them and firmly believes that in any difficult time, they will not hesitate to devote their body and soul to the homeland and sacrifice their lives for it. If they were truly sacrificing their lives for money, as alleged, then which parents would willingly prepare and send their children to the army so that they might become martyrs or heroes and a source of success for them in this world and the hereafter? I am confident that just as our armed forces are filled with the spirit of martyrdom, the nation stands firmly behind them.
Therefore, no power in the world can prevent them from fulfilling their sacred mission. The exalted status of martyrdom is evident from the fact that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) himself expressed the desire for martyrdom.
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.